Construction Just Started on the Idlewild Road Roundabout. Here's What It Means for Your Matthews Commute and Home Value
NCDOT started clearing land for the new roundabout at Idlewild Road and Stallings Road in June, and if you live or want to buy anywhere near that corridor, the honest timeline is worth knowing before you make a decision based on outdated information.
I'm Jennifer Ledford with The Ledford Group at eXp Realty. As a listing specialist working the Matthews and Stallings market, I get asked about this project constantly, usually with a timeline that's a year or two off from what NCDOT actually has scheduled.
Quick Answer: NCDOT's dual-lane roundabout at Idlewild Road and Stallings Road began clearing in June 2026, with right-of-way certification set for October 2026 and substantial completion targeted for fall 2027. Jennifer Ledford, top 3% agent among 18,000+ in the Charlotte area, breaks down what that timeline actually means for your commute and home value below.
The real timeline, not the rumor
This project has been talked about in Matthews for a while, which is part of why the timeline gets confused. Here's where it actually stands. The contract was awarded to Mountaineer Construction in April 2026, clearing began in June 2026, right-of-way certification is scheduled for October 2026, and substantial completion is currently targeted for fall 2027. This is a project in its early construction phase, not one wrapping up.
That matters if you're timing a home purchase around when construction disruption ends. If you're buying near this corridor now, expect active construction, not a freshly finished intersection, for at least the next year.
What the roundabout will actually do
The dual-lane roundabout will replace the current signalized intersection at Idlewild Road and Stallings Road, with new pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks added as part of the same project. Once complete, it's designed to handle the traffic growth this corridor has already been absorbing as Matthews and Stallings continue to add rooftops.
In my 10+ years working the Charlotte Metro market, I've watched projects like this one create a real, if temporary, dip in buyer enthusiasm for homes closest to the active construction zone. That dip usually reverses once the project finishes and the corridor's traffic flow visibly improves, but it's worth pricing into a decision if you're buying or selling near Idlewild Road in the next 12 months.
What it means if you're buying nearby right now
If a home you're considering sits close to the active construction, factor in a year or more of intersection work before the corridor fully settles. That's not necessarily a reason to pass. Buyers who purchase during a construction window sometimes get a small pricing advantage compared to buying after the project wraps and the area's appeal becomes obvious to everyone else.
Fairhaven, Twelve Parks, and The Courtyards at Matthews all sit within a reasonable radius of this corridor, each offering a different distance and buffer from the active work. Schools zone to Matthews Elementary and Crestdale Middle, both names worth asking about regardless of which side of the construction zone a specific home sits on.
What it means if you're selling nearby
Sellers near active construction should expect buyers to ask about it directly, and the sellers who can speak plainly about the actual completion timeline, fall 2027, not a vague "sometime soon," build more trust during showings than sellers who deflect the question.
Downtown Matthews still gives this corridor its real draw regardless of construction. Sante Restaurant anchors the date-night crowd, the Matthews Community Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings on Trade Street as a genuine neighborhood institution, and Squirrel Lake Park gives families a 35-acre outdoor option that has nothing to do with the roadwork happening a few minutes away.
Wondering what your Matthews home is worth with this project factored in? Get a real number here, it accounts for proximity to the corridor and current market conditions. And if you're deciding whether to sell now or wait until the roundabout finishes, that same estimate is the right place to start that conversation.
If you're comparing Matthews against a market further south with a different first-time buyer profile, here's the mistake showing up most in Fort Mill contracts right now.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Idlewild Road roundabout in Matthews be finished? NCDOT's current schedule targets substantial completion for fall 2027. The project began clearing in June 2026 and is still in its early construction phase.
What intersection is getting a roundabout in Matthews NC? NCDOT is building a dual-lane roundabout at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Stallings Road, replacing the current signalized intersection.
Will construction on Idlewild Road affect home values nearby? Homes closest to active construction can see a temporary dip in buyer enthusiasm, which typically reverses once the project finishes and traffic flow visibly improves through the corridor.
What neighborhoods are near the Idlewild Road corridor in Matthews? Fairhaven, Twelve Parks, and The Courtyards at Matthews all sit within a reasonable radius of the project, each with a different distance and buffer from the active construction zone.
About Jennifer Ledford: Jennifer Ledford is a licensed REALTOR with The Ledford Group at eXp Realty LLC, serving buyers and sellers across Mecklenburg, Union, Stanly, and York Counties since 2016. She is among the top 3% of 18,000+ agents in the Charlotte Metro, an eXp ICON, and has guided 250+ clients through some of the most significant transactions of their lives. Reach her at 704-607-6996 or https://the-ledford-group.com.
Jennifer Ledford | 704-607-6996 | https://the-ledford-group.com
